TalkTalk to Sky, need info

I'm thinking of moving from TalkTalk LLU service to Sky LLU, mostly because of the "unlimited" thing. I just need to ask a few questions first.

What's the difference between Sky's LLU connection and TalkTalk's? As in are they both the same ADSL2+ tech?

What's the free router like?

Just to be sure on the price, what I'll pay is line rental (£12.25) and one fee (£7.50) which will include broadband and free calls right? (I already have SkyTV).

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Edited by deleted (Thu 20-Oct-11 15:01:08)

DonnieDio2000,

Before you go any further I would make absolutely sure with TalkTalk themselves, and get it in writing, about the procedures and possible costs of switching from Talktalk full LLU to another full LLU provider, i.e. Sky.

4M2.

HI,

Been connected for a week now, the router is a bit basic, nothing too special but it does the job.

There are ways of "Hacking" it though or you could use your own, just a matter of putting in the settings, I intend to do this once line "Teaching" is complete.

Line activation did take a while, 3 weeks or so, no idea who the line was with before but cost a flat rate tenner for the connection.

Right I've just asked about this on there forums. I don't see why they would be able to charge anything since I'm not contracted to them any more, but its best to ask anyway I suppose.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Yes, you need to speak to a user accounts manager - generally the regular TalkTalk advisers don't have a "scripted" response to answer and confirm such matters.

What they will probably do is try to tempt you to stay by offering a discounted retention deal involving a new contract initially.

Yeah they're pretty good on the members forum so they should be able to tell me what I need to know.

A few people have advised me to phone the retention team, and I probably will once I get all the info I need about the possible move. I'm not sure they could offer a deal that would get me to stay though. I mean I've been very happy with TalkTalk, but at the end of the day they don't offer an unlimited package and they can't offer Anytime+.

EDIT: Been told they actually do offer an unlimited package.

But its mostly the usage thing that's making me want to move. Since I joined TalkTalk I've never gone over 40GB. But last month I got a letter saying I'd used 76GB and to make sure it didn't happen this month. I thought there must be some kind of mistake, because I hadn't downloaded much more than I have in the past. But I decided it didn't really matter since they hadn't charged me for it, until I checked my usage again this month. 10 days in and apparently I'd used 37GB!, totally impossible IMO. I was going to complain, and then I got a letter through the door saying that Sky Unlimited was now available in my area, read up about it and Anytime+ and thought why bother complaining to talktalk? I can just go to Sky and never have to think about download usage again, and get Anytime+ and all for slightly less than I'm paying now.

Edited by deleted (Thu 20-Oct-11 17:08:59)

DonnieDio2000,

Are you using a wireless connection between the router and the computer? If so somebody could be piggybacking on your broadband and stealing some of your bandwidth...

It's fairly easy for anyone to do if the wireless security isn't set to at least WPA and you are using the default wireless name and wireless key (SSID and preshare key.)

Yeah I thought about that, but my wireless is on WPA2-PSK with a custom key.

Good suggestion though.

..and only known devices are on the network?

Yeah whenever I've checked, though no way to tell if anyone was using it late at night. Seems very unlikely with WPA2 but I changed my key again last week just to make sure.

How is your data usage now that you have changed the preshare key?

Looks fairly normal for the last few days I have to say. Still I think I'm going to install one of those usage monitors on my PC, so in future I can check back for myself to see exactly what I used. Well until I either move to Sky or get TalkTalk Unlimited anyway

If you do think data usage is unusual during the next few days then it might be a good idea to hard wire the computer to the router, if it's convenient, and turn wireless off. Then if you do have a dispute with TalkTalk about the data usage then they will not be able to claim that it's a problem with your wireless security.

I've seen their wireless routers sent out with very poor security and wireless enabled by default, folks will connect them up without changing the settings, nor turning wireless off even if they are not using it, and then they are very vulnerable bandwidth theft. TalkTalk will probably claim that they are not responsible for any breaches of wireless security under any circumstances and suggest it's entirely the users responsibility.

Anyway best of luck

4M2.

I've now looked into this for the past week and sorted everything out apart from one issue. Keeping my old telephone number (I've had it for 25 years). Sky claimed they weren't entitled to take it away from TalkTalk's network. So I asked TalkTalk and they said they have no right to keep it and its up to Sky if they want to take it over. Now Sky claim they just don't have any way to transfer the number.

I know they're lying because I've seen posts from people who have moved from TalkTalk LLU to Sky LLU and had their number taken along with them. But I'm at a loss as to how to get Sky to do it in my case. Has anyone here moved from TalkTalk LLU to Sky LLU and taken the number with them?

One solution is to transfer the number to a VOIP provider and hang on to it that way, then it doesn't matter what your landline number is.

Or just say to sky that they have to use that number and make it happen as part of you moving to them.

I've emailed them twice to ask about switching and made it clear both times that I can't switch if they can't transfer my number. Each time they just say they are unable to transfer numbers away from TalkTalk (which I know isn't true). They just don't seem that interested in getting new customers to me.

In reply to a post by DonnieDio2000:

I've emailed them twice to ask about switching and made it clear both times that I can't switch if they can't transfer my number. Each time they just say they are unable to transfer numbers away from TalkTalk (which I know isn't true). They just don't seem that interested in getting new customers to me.

the number is a bt number, therefore sky should not have any issues taking it over, sales staff ain't got a clue, the only other way would be to switch to say the post office, phone only, this would in effect move the line back to bt , and then sky could take the order as normal, the joys of full llu , best bet never go there

My daughter just switched from talk talk to sky and kept her number, she was originally on tiscali so whether this makes a difference or not I don't know, because she kept her number there was a delay in connecting her broadband, the phone went over about 10 days ago, the broadband only went over today

Well I tried posting on the Sky support forum and again was told the same thing about my number coming up as non-transferable.

So I called Sky's broadband team expecting to hear the same thing and the bloke on there didn't even flinch when I said I'd have to keep my number... No problem at all apparently, I might get a bit of a delay because of the process but that's all. How 5 difference Sky reps can all come up with the same nonsense is beyond me, its like they all read the previous reply to me and just backed up their fellow employee.

Anyway I'm finally being moved, and as an apology of sorts he's given me Sky Movies free for 3 months and my talk package free for 3 months.

Regarding LLU, I don't think its really a problem, it just comes down to clueless people not wanting to do a thing for a customer. I've actually had pretty much nothing but good service on TalkTalk LLU and of course the price difference in comparison to what I was paying before is quite significant.

I just hope I don't regret leaving TalkTalk, like I said I've had no problems with their service and actually had excellent customer service too (via the support forum). I just like the sound of Sky's unlimited service and Sky Anytime+. If I went anywhere from Sky it would probably be back to TalkTalk if possible

could you let us know how your move went once it happens

Just to update things Sky say my phone line and broadband will be activated on the 1st of December and they've confirmed my phone number is the same as before.

Edited by deleted (Thu 24-Nov-11 16:03:34)

Another update, today was the transfer/activation date for my phone line and broadband. I lost my phone service for about 4 hours and broadband for slightly less than that. Everything's transferred over now and I've definitely got the same number. So everything went smoothly and its all working as it should.

One small thing I've noticed is that my line attenuation has increased from its normal 54.5db to 58db (which has obviously dropped my sync speed slightly). But I'll wait until things settle down before looking into that.

I started at 4M and moved over the next 2-6 days to my final speed.

I got a letter a couple of days ago saying:

"We're writing to confirm that we're planning to transfer your Sky Talk and Sky Broadband services to our new network on Tuesday 03 January 2012"

I assume this means I'm currently not on Sky's LLU service? They must have transfered me from TakTalk to a BT based line and now they're transferring me again to Sky LLU?